LETTER: Some suggestions for politicians’ resolutions

An open letter of my “New Years Resolutions” to every elected politician from the President to county officials:

I do hereby resolve to …

Watch you like a hawk. This year I will access and evaluate every single vote that you make. I will be familiar with the item of which you are placing your vote for me. You were elected and placed into a very important position of power and comes with excellent benefits paid for by myself and my family. I will expect you to inspect the pros and cons of every single dollar that you decide to spend or not spend and to explain your reasons why.

I will not accept a “present” or an “abstain” vote. If there has been enough reason to bring a subject to the floor, then you should have an educated opinion. My sons are not allowed to write “present - did not study” on a test question. You will receive the same “X” mark on your “abstain” vote that my boys would get on their test paper. So study, do your due diligence, vote your conscience and be prepared to back it up to me.

Our city, county, state and federal governments are broke (broken also). I have a hard time affording a sausage biscuit. If you pack “pork” into a bill I want to know why. If your spending package can stand alone, then let it. Do not tell me that Stanley Middle School funding will be tied into a new sewer system for a developer from Georgia who is “planning” a subdivision in your district. Do not use taxpayer money to fund any private project or enterprise. I do believe that our banks are in the business of lending monies and getting a fair interest of return for their efforts. If these financial institutions cannot foresee making a profit on an investment, then how can you?

When my wife and I go to the grocery store, we have $75 - $85 for a weeks worth of groceries for four people. If we spend $100, we either have to beg, borrow or trim $15 - $25 off of next week’s budget. When our $275 car payment is late, the finance company tacks on $25. This $25 quickly adds up to an almost insurmountable sum. The same holds true for you and tax monies as it does for us and our private monies. This is not “your” money - It is “our” money. If you would like to spend your own private funds, please do so and I will give you my blessings and offers of good luck.

Please refrain from “bowing-down” to foreign dignitaries, the ACLU or the NRA. I honestly do not care how much influence or cash that they have. It does not affect me. It does affect me when you, let your own personal growth and welfare be contaminated by special interest groups.

Please tell our judges to follow the Constitution and not re-write it. Follow habeas corpus and keep criminals away from me and my family or I will use my 2nd Amendment rights.

Stop allowing crooks to sue police officers for “excessive force.” You will not be subject to a taser or a handgun if an officer has no reason to stop or detain you. I will be watching what you say and do about judges and district attorneys’ decisions.

Lastly, I expect you to be available to me when I have a concern. I am a Republican and have tried to contact Sue Myrick many times with no response. I have contacted Gaston County School Superintendent Reeves McGlohon, likewise, and been answered within 24 hours every single time. Several House and Senate candidates personally stopped by my home and spoke with me and answered questions. They did their jobs and so I went to the polls and did mine. Even if I didn’t vote for them, I sent my prayers to God for their well-being and their continued interest in our country.